Enlarged Prostate – Benign Prostatic Hyperplasia (BPH)

Author: Andrew W. Saul – Assistant Editor Journal of Orthomolecular Medicine

Saw palmetto is a shrub that grows down south in Georgia and Florida along the ocean.  The leaves are palm-like, and the stems are saw-toothed, hence the name. There are no side effects or contraindications listed. This is in sharp contrast with the drug Proscar.  European studies have confirmed that saw palmetto berries are a statistically significant therapy for enlarged prostate. They are clearly a safer treatment, and cheaper as well. 

Zinc is as helpful with enlarged prostates as it is with inflamed ones, since zinc deficiency results in prostate enlargement. Very few men obtain even the low US RDA of 15 milligrams of zinc a day, and this would explain a lot. Supplemental doses may help shrink a swollen prostate. Toxicity of zinc is very low.  How effective is zinc therapy?  Dr. Irving Bush of the Chicago Medical School and researchers from Cook County Hospital studied over 5,000 patients and have confirmed that zinc prevents prostate enlargement. 

Lycopene, the natural antioxidant pigment that makes tomatoes red, has been demonstrated to slow or even halt the growth of benign prostatic hyperplasia (BPH).

REFERENCES:
Schwarz S, Obermüller-Jevic UC, Hellmis E, Koch W, Jacobi G, Biesalski HK. Lycopene inhibits disease progression in patients with benign prostate hyperplasia. J Nutr. 2008 Jan;138(1):49-53.
Balch and Balch. Prescription for Nutritional Healing. Avery Publishing, Garden City Park, NY, 1990, pp 271-273. 
Fair WR and Heston W.  Prostate inflammation linked to zinc shortage. Prevention 113: June, 1977. 
Lust J.  The Herb Book. Bantam Books, 1979 
Pfeiffer CC.  Zinc and Other Micro-nutrients. Keats, 1978  p 46-47. 
Taylor DS. Nutrients can remedy prostate problems. Today’s Living, February 1990, p12-13.